Gray’s Inn in Holborn, London, is one of the four Inns of Court, historic societies that educate and train barristers in England and Wales. Steeped in history, Gray’s Inn takes its name from the first Baron de Grey, as the hall was a townhouse belonging to his family. The Inn is owned by its members and comprises a hall, Treasury Office, library, commercial and residential lettings set around two squares and gardens. The beautiful gardens, known as the ‘Walks,’ were laid out by Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England, in 1608, and remain one of the largest private gardens in London.
First established around 1370 as a lodging of lawyers, Gray’s Inn prospered during the 16th century when the number of law students admitted quadrupled. Remembered as the ‘Golden Age,’ Queen Elizabeth I was the Inn’s Patron Lady.
In 1588, the Armada Screen was placed in the west end of the hall, believed to be made of wood salvaged from a Spanish galleon and gifted by Queen Elizabeth herself. Shakespeare’s first ever public performance of A Comedy of Errors was held in the hall.
Between 1680 and 1687, three disastrous fires caused damage to the site; in1684 the library was burned, destroying ancient records. During the Blitz in 1941, the Inn suffered extensive damage, but fortunately rare books, portraits and the Armada Screen in Gray’s Inn Hall had been removed for safe keeping. Some post-war rebuilding took place during the 1950s.
The distinctive Gray’s Inn griffin dates from around the 1590s, replacing the original de Grey coat of arms. The badge is adapted from the arms of Richard Aungier, who was closely connected to the management of the Inn, until he was murdered in his chambers by one of his sons in 1597. A griffin is a legendary creature with the body, tail and back legs of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. The heraldic emblem is often displayed on a shield and is used on various parts of the buildings including on this stunning hopper head with gold painting.
We were delighted to be asked to create two new bespoke hoppers to match the originals cast in lead. The hoppers were exceptionally large, 3 feet tall, but at J & JW Longbottom we relish a challenge and created a new pattern to match the existing hopper designs in cast iron. Hopper heads have an important function to increase the flow of water during heavy rainfall and are often used to enhance a property with their ornamental appearance. Cast iron not only looks good and in keeping with a building of this age, but it’s also extraordinarily strong and durable and will keep the Inn safe from rainwater for many years to come.
